Spring has sprung and one of our favorite dishes to make with all of the wonderful spring bounty that is to be had in the farmer’s markets is Spaghetti alla Norma. In Sarasota, Florida, where we live, there are 7 farmer’s markets where vendors of fruits and vegetables, fresh gulf fish, and even a traveling crepérie ply their wares and there are some fabulous foodie finds. Many of those with stands have only recently become produce farmers. Recently I met someone whose family had been sod farmers, I was amazed to learn that due to the downturn in the economy her family has turned to growing fabulous vegetables and flowers. They were able to use the Obama administration stimulus money to assist them in diversifying their crops and making their land create income. Like many who go to the farmer’s markets, when we go it is part shopping expedition and part amusement park visit. We almost always find unplanned gems that we must purchase, and then wonder what we will do with them when we get them home.
One of the dishes we’ve made with the bounty of vegetables we’ve bought at the farmer’s market is Pasta alla Norma. This is a recipe we have taught in our home cooking class and is delicious. This dish was named after Vincenzo Bellini’s opera, Norma. It is a typical Sicilian pasta recipe, flavorful, fresh, and even vegetarian. It is exceptional with fresh farmer’s market produce.
14 comments on “Spaghetti alla Norma Recipe”
Alli on said:
Thank you, a girlfriend handed me an unwanted (!) eggplant today and I looked for an ‘old friend’ recipe of Marcella’s online, found this… yum! (Her cookbook was misplaced in one of many moves). Glad to find this website. Will try the carbonara next I think.
This pasta looks fantastic – simple and delicious. Amazing about the increase in produce farmers at your market… who knew? And I love your wagon-wheel pasta! Such fun!
This is a simply beautiful pasta just the way I like to eat it. Italians are marvelous cooks and great at producing tasty creations out of simple ingredients.
This is so much like the simple, clean, seasonal yet deliciously flavorful pasta primos tossed together by Nonna Anna, the woman who lived next door to us in Italy and one of the best and most memorable dishes we ate there. Beautiful, Lael.
And I am also thrilled to hear a real-life story of someone receiving stimulus money and knowing how much good it did. Thanks!
Sigh, I LOVE that sun-dappled basket full of fresh herbs. Makes me want to go to the market right now and come home with arms full of such deliciousness.
One of my favorite dishes! I love the way the fresh mozzarella slowly starts to melt into the pasta. Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen recently posted..kale powder your daily dose of green
Since my son was eating with us tonight and he is not a fan of eggplant, I made this with the tomatoes and artichoke hearts and of course the garlic, cheese, basil – very good! I will be trying again with eggplant soon. Very quick, very delicious! Thank you so much for the recipe Maria Paray recently posted..MJSA Trade Show 2011
This sounds wonderful – simple yet hearty yet fresh. I will definitely try it next time I get my hands on some nice heavy eggplants. Thank you for sharing! Christine (Cook the Story) recently posted..Preserved Lemons Make a Gift of a Salad
Oh deliciousness! We love eggplant! Yet another reason to consider moving to Sarasota – SEVEN Farmer’s Markets! Wow, how wonderful! Maria Paray recently posted..MJSA Trade Show 2011
Spring has sprung and one of our favorite dishes to make with all of the wonderful spring bounty that is to be had in the farmer’s markets is Spaghetti alla Norma. In Sarasota, Florida, where we live, there are 7 farmer’s markets where vendors of fruits and vegetables, fresh gulf fish, and even a traveling crepérie ply their wares and there are some fabulous foodie finds. Many of those with stands have only recently become produce farmers. Recently I met someone whose family had been sod farmers, I was amazed to learn that due to the downturn in the economy her family has turned to growing fabulous vegetables and flowers. They were able to use the Obama administration stimulus money to assist them in diversifying their crops and making their land create income. Like many who go to the farmer’s markets, when we go it is part shopping expedition and part amusement park visit. We almost always find unplanned gems that we must purchase, and then wonder what we will do with them when we get them home.
Thank you, a girlfriend handed me an unwanted (!) eggplant today and I looked for an ‘old friend’ recipe of Marcella’s online, found this… yum! (Her cookbook was misplaced in one of many moves). Glad to find this website. Will try the carbonara next I think.
This pasta looks fantastic – simple and delicious. Amazing about the increase in produce farmers at your market… who knew? And I love your wagon-wheel pasta! Such fun!
This is a simply beautiful pasta just the way I like to eat it. Italians are marvelous cooks and great at producing tasty creations out of simple ingredients.
This is so much like the simple, clean, seasonal yet deliciously flavorful pasta primos tossed together by Nonna Anna, the woman who lived next door to us in Italy and one of the best and most memorable dishes we ate there. Beautiful, Lael.
And I am also thrilled to hear a real-life story of someone receiving stimulus money and knowing how much good it did. Thanks!
xo
This is so hearty and cheesy, just the way I like my pasta!
Sigh, I LOVE that sun-dappled basket full of fresh herbs.
Makes me want to go to the market right now and come home with arms full of such deliciousness. 
about as perfect as it gets – pasta, fresh vegetables from the markets, a bit of good cheese and fresh herbs . . . makes my mouth water Lael!!!
One of my favorite dishes! I love the way the fresh mozzarella slowly starts to melt into the pasta.
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen recently posted..kale powder your daily dose of green
Since my son was eating with us tonight and he is not a fan of eggplant, I made this with the tomatoes and artichoke hearts and of course the garlic, cheese, basil – very good! I will be trying again with eggplant soon. Very quick, very delicious! Thank you so much for the recipe
Maria Paray recently posted..MJSA Trade Show 2011
Glad you enjoyed. I’ll look forward to finding out how you enjoyed it with eggplant.
This sounds wonderful – simple yet hearty yet fresh. I will definitely try it next time I get my hands on some nice heavy eggplants. Thank you for sharing!
Christine (Cook the Story) recently posted..Preserved Lemons Make a Gift of a Salad
Let us know how you like it. It is one of our favorite go to recipes.
Oh deliciousness! We love eggplant! Yet another reason to consider moving to Sarasota – SEVEN Farmer’s Markets! Wow, how wonderful!
Maria Paray recently posted..MJSA Trade Show 2011
A fabulous dish with summery flavors! Perfect with local tomatoes/eggplants, fresh garlic and artisan mozarella cheese!
Cheers,
Rosa